442. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1

SUBJECT

  • Daily Report

Information

Assistance to Pakistan: Ambassador Hummel makes a “last-ditch appeal” to avoid the predictable damage to our interests if we fail to give the Paks the economic support they have requested and that we have urged others to give.2 He notes that our plans for economic aid to Pakistan will be discussed publicly for the first time at an aid consortium meeting in Paris on June 12. Unless there are changes in our present position it will become known that Washington plans no economic assistance to Pakistan during the current fiscal year and none at all in FY 1981. In addition, there will be no perceptible movement on rescheduling Pak debts because of our hardline position on the subject. The damage of all of this, in Hummel’s view, includes: giving the Soviets the wrong signal; dismay among our friends, including the Saudis; and sharp deterioration in U.S.–Pak bilateral relations.3 (S)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 28, 6/1/80–6/8/80. Secret; Sensitive. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Zbig, J.”
  2. Telegram 4961 from Islamabad, May 22, transmitted Hummel’s appeal. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870097–0459) See also footnote 2, Document 441.
  3. In the left-hand margin next to this paragraph, Carter wrote: “Check with Ed & Jim—Advise what we can do, J.” In a June 3 memorandum to Muskie and McIntyre, Brzezinski wrote: “the President wishes, on an urgent basis, a recommendation on our plans for economic assistance to Pakistan in the current fiscal year and beyond.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P800089–2098) An unknown hand wrote “O.B.E.” at the top of Brzezinski’s memorandum and referred to Muskie’s June 2 memorandum to Carter; see Document 441.